The
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences prepares
graduates for careers in the clinical laboratory
sciences, involving the performance of laboratory
tests used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
and the maintenance of health. Most graduates
work in hospital laboratories in Clinical Chemistry,
Hematology, Immunohematology and Microbiology, performing analyses on blood, various body fluids,
and tissues. Clinical laboratory scientists help
diagnose conditions such as diabetes, anemias,
infectious disease and blood transfusion compatibility.
The curriculum is designed to provide a broad
education in the humanities and social sciences,
extensive preparation in basic math and sciences followed by strong, in-depth study of
the various clinical laboratory sciences. Completion
of the program results in a Bachelor of Science
degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and eligibility
to challenge any of several national certification
and state licensure examinations.

The
program is organized in a 2+2 format, consisting
of a 2-year pre-professional component and a 2-year
professional component. The pre-professional component
(freshman and sophomore years) consists of 64
units of prescribed general preparation and elective
studies. The professional component (junior and
senior years) comprises 5 semesters of advanced
biomedical and clinical laboratory science course
work. Enrollment in or successful completion
of the pre-professional component as a clinical
laboratory sciences major does not automatically
assure acceptance in the professional component.
A limited number of students are admitted each
Spring to the professional component which begins
in the fall semester.

The
Senior Year consists of three consecutive semesters
(12 months) beginning with the summer term following
the junior year. The senior year calendar varies
considerably from the normal University calendar.
Twenty-eight weeks
of the senior year comprise the clinical practica
in the University teaching hospitals under supervision
of clinical instructors. Students gain skills
and confidence necessary for the entry-level professional.
The students return to the University classroom
for the final 5 weeks of the program
for clinical correlation studies and certification
examination review. During this time students
evaluate case studies and practice advanced problem
solving skills in preparation for national certification
examinations.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE PROFESSIONAL COMPONENT

Students
are urged to obtain academic advice early and
often while taking lower division pre-professional courses. Specific questions about Clinical
Laboratory Sciences and professional course equivalents
should be directed to the Chair of the Department.

All
candidates for admission to the professional component
must complete 2 years of pre-professional course
work prior to entry into the program. Students
must submit a special application for admission
to the Professional Component. Application forms
can be requested by writing the Department of
Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of South
Alabama, 1504 Springhill Avenue, Room 2309, Mobile
AL 36604-3273 or by telephone, (251)434-3461,
or on the Allied Health Application
deadline is February 1. Interviews will be
scheduled during March and notification of admission
to the professional component
will be made by May 1. Late applications to the
program (after February 1) will be considered
if positions are available.

Students are selected by
various criteria that predict probability of success
as a laboratory professional. Selection criteria
include: 1) Science/Mathematics grade-point average
to include course work in General Biology, Anatomy
and Physiology, Microbiology, General Chemistry,
Mathematics and Statistics; 2) overall grade-point
average; and 3) interview with faculty to assess
candidates aptitude for the program and
the profession.

In order to be considered
for admission to the Professional Component of
the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program, students
must meet the following criteria:

1.

The
following pre-professional courses should
be completed by the end of the fall semester
in which the application for admission is
submitted:
BLY 121, MA 112, BMD 210, ST 210, CH 131,
132, CLS 114.

2.

The
student must have a cumulative GPA for all
college courses of 2.40 or higher and
a GPA in BLY 121, MA 112, BMD 210, ST 210,
CH 131, 132, CLS 114 of 2.40 or higher.

3.

ALL
pre-professional requirements must
be completed prior to the beginning of the fall semester of the junior year. Students
may not defer pre-professional prerequisites
to the junior year.

4.

The student
must be in good academic
standing to begin the Professional
Phase of the Program. (See ACADEMIC STATUS,
in the section titled ACADEMIC POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES). Senior didactic courses (CLS 410, CLS 420, CLS 431 and CLS 432) must be completed at USA to receive a B.S. degree in CLS. )

Failure to meet these criteria
will disqualify an applicant from the professional
component of the program for that year.
Such an individual may
reapply for admission to the
professional program for the following
year.

The Admissions Committee reserves the right to consider exceptional applicants who may not meet all requirements.

CORE
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
are fundamental tasks and skills that are required
for successful completion of the program. They
have been outlined and are available from the
Department upon request.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN
CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES

Successful completion of
134 semester hours
of pre-professional and professional course work
are required for the Bachelor of Science in Clinical
Laboratory Sciences as listed:

I. Pre-professional Component

Area I - Written Composition

(6)

EH 101, EH 102

3,3

Area II
- Humanities & Fine Arts

(12)

CA 110

3

ARH 100,ARH 103, ARH 123, ARH 240, ARH 242, ARS 101, DRA
110, MUL 101

3

EH 215 or
EH 216 or EH 225 or EH 226 or EH 235 or EH 236

3

*Humanities elective (recommend
PHL 131 if HY sequence chosen)

3

Area III
- Natural Sciences & Math

(11)

MA 112

3

CH 131/CH 131L, CH 132/CH 132L

4,4

Area IV
- History, Social & Behavioral Sciences

(12)

History elective
(HY 101, HY 102, HY 135, HY 136)

3

*Social Science
Electives (3 courses)

9

Area V
- pre-professional, Major & Electives

(23)

BLY 121/BLY 121L

4

CH 201

5

BMD 210

3

ST 210

3

CLS
114

4

CLS
115

4

*Must complete
a two-course sequence in Literature or History.

II. Professional
Component

Junior
Year

Fall

Spring

CIS
150

3

CLS
330

4

CLS
340

3

CLS
341

3

CLS
320

4

CLS
345

4

CLS
350

4

BMD 402

5

BMD
401

3

16

17

Senior
Year

Summer

**CLS
410

5

**CLS
420

3

8

Fall/Spring
***

**CLS 431

3

**CLS 432

5

CLS 435

2

CLS
436

1

***CLS
440

2

***CLS
441

1

***CLS
445

2

***CLS 446

1

***CLS
452

2

***CLS 453

2

***CLS
454

1

***CLS
455

1

***CLS
490

1

CLS 495

4

CLS 496

1

29

**Course sequence
may vary each year.

***Course sequence
is different for each student; arranged
by the Department.